Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘PKMRhips10’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Rhipsalidopsis  plant named ‘PKMRhips10’ particularly characterized by its compact plant habit; dense and bushy plant form; moderate growth rate; and dark red-purple colored buds and flowers.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose.

Variety denomination: ‘PKMRhips10’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Rhipsalidopsis, botanically known as Rhipsalidopsis, sometimes referred to as Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose, including Epiphylopsis Berger, commonly known as either Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘PKMRhips10’.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar is a product of a controlled breeding program conducted by the inventor, Christian Hald Madsen, in Søhus, Denmark.

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar originated from a cross made by the inventor in 2007 in Søhus, Denmark. The female and male parents are unpatented, proprietary Rhipsalidopsis cultivars. The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in 2010 in Søhus, Denmark. The inventor selected ‘PKMRhips10’ on the basis of its flower color and compact, freely branching, upright growth habit.

Asexual reproduction of the new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar by phylloclade cuttings was first performed in 2008 in Søhus, Denmark, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true to type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘PKMRhips10’ which distinguish this Rhipsalidopsis as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Upright growth habit and upright flowers;     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth; and     -   3. Dark red-purple buds and flowers.

Data and plants on the parent cultivars are no longer available for comparison with the claimed cultivar.

The most similar commercial cultivar to the instant cultivar ‘PKMRhips10’ is the Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips03’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,717; registered in EU, grant no. 38915). Plants of the instant cultivar ‘PKMRhips10’ differ primarily from plants of Rhipsalidopsis ‘PKMRhips03’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of ‘PKMRhips10’ have darker colored flower buds and         flowers than plants of ‘PKMRhips03’;     -   2. Plants of ‘PKMRhips10’ have purple ovaries whereas for plants         of ‘PKMRhips03’ only the ridges of the ovaries are purple. The         main color of ovaries of ‘PKMRhips03’ are green;     -   3. Plants of ‘PKMRhips10’ have few and smaller hairs at the         areoles along the margin of phylloclades than plants of         ‘PKMRhips03’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips10’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the color of ‘PKMRhips10’.

FIG. 1 shows a typical flowering plant of ‘PKMRhips10’ grown in a 10.5 cm pot.

FIG. 2 shows a typical lateral branch, with phylloclades, buds, and flowers of ‘PKMRhips10’.

FIG. 3 shows a comparison of a typical plant of ‘PKMRhips10’ (right) with a typical plant of the similar variety ‘PKMRhips03’ (left).

FIG. 4 shows a comparison of typical lateral branches, with phylloclades, buds, and flowers, of the varieties ‘PKMRhips10’ and ‘PKMRhips03’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Rhipsalidopsis cultivar ‘PKMRhips10’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of ‘PKMRhips10’ as grown in a glass-covered greenhouse in Fyn, Denmark, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice, where day temperatures in the greenhouse average 18° C. and night temperatures in the greenhouse average 16° C. Ambient light levels used while growing plants of ‘PKMRhips10’ are +50 Wm². No growth retardants were used when growing plants of ‘PKMRhips10’.

The age of the ‘PKMRhips10’ plants described is about 10-12 months after propagation and grown in 10.5 cm pots. The photographs and descriptions were taken during the winter season. Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose.         -   Common name.—Easter Cactus or Spring Cactus.         -   Variety denomination.—PKMRhips10. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Unpatented, proprietary             Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Unpatented, proprietary             Rhipsalidopsis Britton et Rose cultivar. -   Propagation: By phylloclade cuttings.     -   -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—In a greenhouse,             about 2 months at 18° C. to 21° C.         -   Rooting habit and description.—Fine, well-branched. -   Plant:     -   -   Type.—Perennial, Epiphyte.         -   Overall shape.—Upright.         -   Form.—Dense and Bushy.         -   Growth habit.—Branched.         -   Branching habit.—1-4 new phylloclades forming at the apical             end of older phylloclades. No pinching required.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Vigor.—Good.         -   Crop time.—About 10-12 months are required to produce a             finished flowering plant.         -   Size at maturity.—Height (soil level to top of plant,             excluding flowers): About 13-15 cm. Spread: About 25-30 cm,             excluding flowers. -   Stem: None, older phylloclades may turn woody with age (several     years). -   Phylloclade:     -   -   Arrangement.—Phylloclades form at the apex of older             phylloclades to form branches.         -   Aspect.—Upright to arching (from basal phylloclade).         -   Strength.—Strong (from basal phylloclade).         -   Length.—30-45 mm.         -   Width.—Up to 25 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Oval.         -   Apex shape.—Truncate.         -   Base shape.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture.—Glabrous, smooth.         -   Pubescence.—Approx. 1-3 hairs up to 3 mm long at areoles             along margins.         -   Color of mature phylloclade.—Upper and lower surfaces:             Between RHS 147A and 147B, yellow-green with purple margins.         -   Venation.—None. -   Flower description:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—Flowering occurs from February to             April (northern hemisphere), but can be changed by cold             treatment. Flowers persistent, sessile.         -   Flowering response time.—About 8 to 9 weeks after end of             cold treatment.         -   Flowering longevity (dependent on temperature and light             conditions).—About 5 to 6 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Quantity of flowers per terminal phylloclade.—1 to 3.         -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—Over 100.         -   Flower bud.—Length: Ranging from 0 to 25 mm (before             anthesis). Width: Ranging from 0 to 10 mm. Shape: Ovoid to             lanceolatoid. Color: RHS N74B, red-purple.         -   Flower.—Shape: Actinomorphic. Aspect: Upright to vertical             during development. Persistent or self-cleaning: Persistent.             Height: Up to 4 cm (including ovary). Diameter: Up to 6.5             cm.         -   Tepals.—Arrangement: Actinomorphic; not fused. Quantity:             15-20. Length: Up to 35 mm. Width: Up to 7 mm. Shape: Broad             oblanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth             and Silky. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Overall color             appearance RHS N74B, red-purple, not evenly colored —             lighter at the edges and basal parts, especially at inner             side. Color does not fade. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Stamen: Quantity: Many (>100). Anther: Shape:             Oblong. Length: About 1 mm. Color: RHS 14B, yellow-orange.             Filament: Length: up to 15 mm. Color: N74B, red-purple.             Pollen: Amount: Plenty. Color: RHS 14B, yellow-orange.         -   Gynoecium.—Pistil: Quantity: 1. Stigma: Shape: Branched.             Color: Between RHS 155A and RHS 155B, white. Style: Length:             up to 18 mm. Color: Base: white. Middle: purple. Apex:             purple. Style is too small to determine RHS value. Ovary:             Color: RHS 183B, greyed-purple. -   Seeds/fruit: None observed. -   Disease/pest resistance and susceptibility: Not tested. -   Temperature tolerance: Tolerant to a low temperature of about 2° C.     and to a high temperature about 40° C. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Rhipsalidopsis plant named ‘PKMRhips10’, as illustrated and described herein. 